Importing espresso machines

[beanflying]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Its the respons of reteailers as soon as the word import is mentioned that leeds clients to think that there is some sort of industry conspiracy.

Groan  :

As someone with no vested interest in the importation of coffee machinery but with over 15 years of importing commercial goods. There is NO conspiracy Australia is expensive to get goods into, certified and put them on the shelves with all the boxes ticked for government compliance regardless of product - PERIOD.

As I mentioned sometime ago in this thread most of the rest of us really dont care go do it if it makes you feel good that you have saved some $$ with your personal advantageous circumstances. As a tax payer I hope you get caught attempting to defraud customs on the way into the country instead of me helping subsidise your toys.

[sherro]

Re: Importing espresso machines

As someone with no vested interest in the importation of coffee machinery but with over 15 years of importing commercial goods. There is NO conspiracy Australia is expensive to get goods into, certified and put them on the shelves with all the boxes ticked for government compliance regardless of product - PERIOD.

As I mentioned sometime ago in this thread most of the rest of us really dont care go do it if it makes you feel good that you have saved some $$ with your personal advantageous circumstances. As a tax payer I hope you get caught attempting to defraud customs on the way into the country instead of me helping subsidise your toys

I don’t believe there is a conspiracy theory, businesses are entitles to mark up item as they see fit.

Did I sat that I wasn’t going to pay import duties on this item????

[Andy]

Re: Importing espresso machines

businesses are entitles to mark up item as they see fit.

Out of interest...
What do you think the markup is for a local reseller?

[sherro]

Re: Importing espresso machines

20%????

[Andy]

Re: Importing espresso machines

20%????

That would be the upper side I would expect and they will also provide local support/service/spares/advice etc. If you see no value in those then buy it from OS.

Worth mentioning in this context... I was talking to an insurance loss adjuster a week ago who said the highlight of his day is when they find it was a self imported grey import that started the fire... zero payout and he gets paid well from the insurance co for finding it.

Ive bought from overseas and Ive bought locally, I think the punchline is do whatever you want to do.

[beanflying]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Did I sat that I wasn’t going to pay import duties on this item????

Maybe I misread your opening statement then ???

I am in a position where I can import a Giotto Evoluzione (airline industry). No Postage, no import duties and from a 220 to 240 volt country

Then to be fair stop quoting pointless export prices and get real and quote it as landed prices including ALL fees and charges :

[cksyd]

Re: Importing espresso machines

I think the punchline is do whatever you want to do.

That seems the part that people find hard to grasp.... :

[cksyd]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Hey Sherro,

As I said, do what you want.

Coming to a commercial website and asking those questions will never get you the answers you want. Nor will it get the hand holding you seem to desperately require.

FYI, I bought my Vibiemme Domobar Super from Coffeparts, a site sponsor.

Chris

What??????

Don’t want hand holding, just want answers to questions. The reason you join a forum

You dont get it do you? This is a commercial website. Specific answers that work in your own reality are only found in public forums, not forums attached to commercial websites...

my brain hurts...

[maheel]

Re: Importing espresso machines

I think the punchline is do whatever you want to do.

That seems the part that people find hard to grasp.... :

id like to the SWMBO says NO....

[Bosco_Lever]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Worth mentioning in this context... I was talking to an insurance loss adjuster a week ago who said the highlight of his day is when they find it was a self imported grey import that started the fire... zero payout and he gets paid well from the insurance co for finding it.

Importing goods into Australia is an interesting topic, and I would like to thank all for their contribution. May I jump in and ask what constitutes a "self imported grey import"?
Also, how would it apply to the following scenarios:
a) An Australian resident takes up an overseas posting, say in Europe or other countries with 220v and buys electrical appliances. On their return they bring these appliances with them. Are they a grey import? If it was an espresso machine (say a high end unit) would service centres (CS sponsors or not) still be willing to adjust/modify them for Aust use? Would they need certification if they are a used unit and not brand new?
b) A person immigrates to Australia and brings their appliances with them (including espresso machines with similar voltage). Same questions as in part a).
c) An Australian citizen buys an espresso machine direct from a manufacturer (say Kees van der Westen). Is this classified as a grey import? There is a local agent, but the manufacturer does deal direct, especially if special mods are requested.
d) An Australian citizen is not happy with an importer (for a number of reasons that may include price, service etc) and asks a rival retailer/importer to bring in an espresso machine for them. No strings attached regarding warranty, just the service of importing it. The machine has only one Australian distributor (to my limited knowledge) and is not very common [eg a Faema E61]. The machine in question is one that is not normally sold by the rival company, but is available through various sources in Europe. Would this be a grey import? Would the machine need certification? Would it need "adjustments" to function at its full potential? Aside from the issue of spare parts, would specialised espresso machine service agents be willing to service/repair this unit down the track?
In general, my questions apply to machines that are high end ($6k+) units. Relatively new, or a restored gem.
I thank any and all for their responses in advance.

[TC]

Re: Importing espresso machines

On their return they bring these appliances with them. Are they a grey import?

Yes- as the item was self-imported, not through established channels. It is not an Australian machine.

would service centres (CS sponsors or not) still be willing to adjust/modify them for Aust use?

Possibly- refer to Attilios post above. Most service centres fix faults only.

A person immigrates to Australia and brings their appliances with them. Same questions as in part a).

Same answers!

An Australian citizen buys an espresso machine direct from a manufacturer (say Kees van der Westen). Is this classified as a grey import?

Yes

There is a local agent, but the manufacturer does deal direct, especially if special mods are requested.

Bizzare for the local agent/importer to be in competition with the manufacturer? 

d) An Australian citizen is not happy with an importer and asks a rival retailer/importer to bring in an espresso machine for them.

Still a grey import. Perhaps consider another brand?

[beanflying]

Re: Importing espresso machines

The KVW thing is unusual and I think it only applies to the Speedster out of the range.

The electrical compliance thing is a whole can of worms and beyond the scope of what this forum should discuss IMO. The basic thrust of it is that all electrical items imported and sold in Australia must have passed a series of tests costing $$. Private imports are fine BUT if an insurance claim or injury/death resulted and the items were found non compliant (with the relevant state and federal electrical safety laws) then bye bye shirt house and anything else you have. A competent electrician should be able to give advice on an older machine to bring it up to a safe standard for use here.

[Thundergod]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Lwowiak, to me it appears that the simple answer is, if you are not an espresso machine importer by trade, any machine brought in by you, be it by courier or in your hand luggage if you immigrate by plane, is a grey import.

Those in the trade have many hoops to jump through to please the authorities.

As an individual you do not.

Some of those hoops are to do with electrical safety standards (as an example).

Their business reputation and existence relies on them doing the right thing and meeting ALL regulations.

The Trade Practices Act is a very powerful piece of legislation as it is wide ranging in its scope and can bite very hard in the hip pocket if breached.

The maximum fine IIRC for a business is about $1.1M for a breach of the act.

Leaving electrical safety issues aside, as Im sure someone will reply that they can get the machine certified, they do a lot more than most of the public realise, just to make a living, build a good reputation...and keep it.

[betterathome]

Re: Importing espresso machines

I recall greymarket is importation of a brand by other than the manufacturer authorised distributors for a particular country / region. So if the manufacturer hasnt authorised you to be one of their distributors fro a country, and you bring in machines (eg buy from a distributor in another country), they are grey imports, whether you are an individual, or a company, authorised is the key word. There is nothing sinister about it, people, and some retailers do it with camera gear, audio amplifiers models which might not be readily available, or that special coffee machine you cant get locally. It just means no warranty from the "authorised distribution channel", and it may vary to locally availbale products, either better (insulated boiler) or worse (smaller element or smaller boiler) comapred to items available from "authorised distribution channel".

Im not going into the specifics of what Australian standards eg AS 3000 (Australian and New Zealand wiring rules) and AS60335 (Household and similar electrical appliances) some appliances need to comply with, it will put people to sleep unless they actually have a functioning espresso machine so they can make a caffeine beverage.

Bringin in your own machine isnt everybodys cup of coffee, and if you are hesitant then its not for you, freight $$ for one machine is a killer. Im wondering if I get PMed with an offer of an evoluzione or duetta someone brought in and are wanting to dump at cost price because they dont feel confortable owning it, but I doubt it.

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Importing espresso machines

At best, what you initially save in price you will eventually pay in excess water bills.

Chris has already posted one link showng how hot overseas models run, and I thought I would post another here, specifically, a Giotto.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GP1QtWcDnE[/media]